I find it difficult to take Alex Rodriguez seriously when he gets all weepy about returning to the Yankees. Despite what he’d have you believe, it’s not exactly as if he took a discount from the Bombers when he signed a record 10-year deal that will see him earn over $300 million when all is said and done.

Nevertheless, A-Rod is talking about his contract once again, telling the Daily News that he feared former-agent Scott Boras was leading him him down the same path that saw Rodriguez shun an offer from the Mets in 2000 in favor of the $252 million deal he signed with the Texas Rangers. Said A-Rod:

“I went for the contract when my true desire was to go play for the Mets…So to make the right decision [this time around] just feels really good versus being taken down a road where I’m like, ‘Oh, my God, where am I? Oh, $400 million to play in some place I hate? Great, I’ll blow my f*cking head off.’

“I wanted to remain a Yankee and for once I put my money where my mouth was. It felt good to make a decision on my own and execute it - to deal with Hank and Hal (Steinbrenner) on a one-on-one basis and get a deal done.

“If people want to question why I did it, I don’t care because it made me happy. If I had gone to Team X, Y or Z, it wouldn’t have made me happy. It would have been because Scott wanted me to go - it would have been for the most money. And then I’m always going to be known as a guy who always wanted the most money.”

I hate to tell you this, Alex, but you’ll always be known as the guy who wanted the most money. Last time I checked, you just signed the most lucrative contract in the history of the sport.

Still, it’s funny to think what might have been had A-Rod only found his conscience sooner. I think Yankee and Met fans alike are pretty happy with the way things played out.